~~~~~~~ where journaling and homesteading meet in the North Georgia Mountains

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

My first knitting project!!

I've been wanting to learn how to knit for 3 years. I took a class in person at a local yarn shop and in looking back figured they really just wanted to sell yarn. I got the best beginner's class on sale at Craftsy.com. She knitted in the Continental method and I kept adding a stitch at the end of each row.

I then learned that if I used contrasting needles to yarn color and use bigger chunky yarn and needes I would be able to see my mistakes.

So here I go to Michaels to get chunky yarn and chunky needles. This I did last night and DID find how I was counting wrong on each row.

I cast on 20 stitches. Casting is fun to me. Then I'm just knitting every row to get this stitch down pat and then another project will purl, another to put the two together.

This scarf is in lambswool yarn and very soft, at the same time, very masculine with the colors.

Mr. Darcy's birthday is coming up soon and it's for him. He already knows it as he watched me last night.

I love the flecks of green in this brown scarf. With the aide of a book on knitting and answers to correct mistakes I am learning!!!! AND I stitched up until bedtime of which I almost fell over asleep as it has an hypnotic quality about the repetitive process.

I finally learned that the English method was best for me.

Isn't it great that learning is a lifetime process?

I figure knitting a piece is functional and learning. Learning to fix mistakes. These are mistakes we can fix and that makes it all the better in a world of mistakes we cannot fix.

I hope you are enjoying your day and know that in 1 week Christmas is here!!!

I have a few packages to wrap. This year due to the economy, is slim fittings but the spirit of Christmas will remain with me forever.

The tree is up, a small slender 7 foot. I'll show you pics later. I got it for little of nothing at a local store and had been looking for a very narrow tree, frazier fur for a long time. I did a happy dance in the store when I saw the slim 7 footer and the low price.

Great start on your knitting. My Grandmother and mother taught me to knit when I was 4 years old, so have been knitting for a long time, if you need any help, just ask. I didn't realise there was a difference in style between US and UK, but as I live in Scotland I only know one way.

I love the part about fixing mistakes in knitting in a world full of mistakes that can't be fixed. So well put. Your work is beautiful. I find knitting very relaxing. I learned from my right-handed mother, but I knit lefty in the Norwegian style (so I've been told....I really don't know one from the other!) Well, the stuff I make stays together and that's all that counts really!

I too am trying to learn to knit and stitched a very narrow garter stitch scarf. I finished it up a few weeks ago (and there are some mistakes) and the last bit of yarn took 3 evenings to finish up! I remember thinking it would have been used up in 15 minutes if I had been crocheting, but I am determined to learn to knit. It is a beautiful scarf for Mr. Darcy and I know he is going to appreciate it! I once stitched an old world map for a boyfriend. It took me 6 months (I think it was in Cross Stitch and Country Crafts Magazine). I got him 2 sconces with blue candles to go in it. I was so happy as I thought I had gotten him the perfect gift- the note I wrote to go with it went something like- you are the light of my world. I was in his storage room about 6 months later and there it all sat covered in dust and dirt. I was crushed! It is so heartwarming to see there are men who appreciate a handmade gift! Merry Christmas to you, Mr. Darcy and Miss. Abby!

Dearest Jennifer,Wish I lived near you... could teach you a few little tricks. But that person was not correct about the Continental way in my opinion.We were lucky for being taught by Catholic nuns and they did teach us how to knit and crochet in 1st grade. My Grandmothers and my Mom were great knitters too so that just came natural. Enjoy this and you are so right; it is therapeutic.Hugs to you,Mariette

Congratulations on learning to knit. I love the scarf and the color you chose! My Grandmother taught me to knit the year before she passed away so I treasure the time I spent with her every time I pick up a pair of knitting needles.

It is indeed wonderful that we can continue to learn throughout our lifetime. I love the fact that you went for it and now know how to knit. My mother taught me when I was only five years old and to this day, I can remember the color yard I learned with. Talk about mistakes. I can remember asking my mother why I had holes in the piece and she explained that a stitch had fallen off my needle. I continued to drop stitches and she continued to fix them. I was so tiny and didn't do anything at all with what I had learned for several years. I love the yarn you're working with now and I just completed a scarf for my older son for Christmas.

Comments are welcome at the homestead at any time! I appreciate your time out of your day to stop and say hello!!We love to hear from you and yours any time and cherish the time you take to be with us here. I hope you have a GREAT week!Jennifer

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About Me

A gentle hello to all near or far! I balance a career as a nurse practitioner full-time with the love of homesteading in the North Georgia mountains. I love to design samplers, cross stitch, knit to my heart's content, write/ journal encouragement and make our mountain house a cozy home. I post on a variety of topics from health, yoga, stitching, primitives, antiques, and mountain life! I am blessed with a Christian husband who compliments my desire to do God's will every day.

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